波克萊、紐約等台商贊助 羅德島龍舟節將添6艘新龍舟

波克萊台灣商會會長楊羅東(左二)，紐約台商會會長江明信
(右二)捐款買龍舟，經文處處長徐佑典(中)代表接受。
左一為台商會顧問游勝雄，右一為郭競儒。
(波克萊台商會提供)

            (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)羅德島龍舟賽暨台灣日今年(2019)跨入20週年。駐波士頓經濟文化辦事處與僑界攜手合作，將捐贈6艘新龍舟，並在預定於9月6、7兩日舉行的龍舟賽之前，就以系列活動盛大慶祝。

                    由駐波士頓經文處發起，波士頓僑學界組成的波士頓台客隊，已預訂參賽。

經文處組長洪麗玲報告募款買龍舟，以及龍舟賽活動安排
概況。(周菊子攝)

               駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長徐佑典1月6日在波克萊台灣商會年會中透露，早在他奉派到波士頓之前，已經是募款購置新龍舟的承辦人。去年羅德島州副州長麥基(Daniel Mckee)率團訪問台灣，提出羅德島龍舟賽暨台灣日今年跨入20週年，希望台灣支援來擴大慶祝時，他們就討論到原本的龍舟賽，每艘龍舟包括舵手，鼓手，旗手，划手，共需22人，組隊不易，台灣政府2004年捐贈的六艘大龍舟已服務多年，也應退休，因而發起邀各界共襄盛舉，購置新的小型龍舟活動。

               徐佑典在會上感謝波克萊台灣商會捐款5000元，紐約台商會捐款3000元。據悉，小型龍舟每艘造價也要2萬餘元。羅德島州政府，羅德島黑石谷旅遊協會，葉超、吳子平等人創辦的羅德島華人協會等將籌措運費，把這六艘新龍舟運來美國。

               經文處副組長洪麗玲補充說明，新的小龍舟，只需要12人就可組隊，相信可吸引更多隊伍報名參賽。目前已有外交部，僑委會，台塑，紐約的TECO等捐贈了5艘。波克萊台灣商會捐款5000元贊助採購的將是第六艘。由於這第六艘龍舟的置辦費，將來自多個不同機構加個人，如何命名，將再協商。

               波克萊台灣商會顧問游勝雄1月8日提供更新資訊，這第六艘小龍舟，參與者迄今合共捐贈了2萬元，其中麻州波克萊台灣商會會長楊羅東捐5000元，在洛杉磯的名譽北美洲總會長楊信捐5000元，紐約台商會長江明信捐3000元，在休士頓的前任北美洲總會長吳光宜娟3000元，在舊金山的前任世界總會長林貴香捐2000元，世台基金會捐1500元，游勝雄捐500元湊足2萬元整數。

               洪麗玲指出，羅德島龍舟賽暨台灣日活動其實是羅德島州每年九月藝術季活動的一部分，州政府十分重視。今年四月羅州政要訪台灣時，他們將舉行受贈儀式，五、六月時，會在羅德島州另外舉行一場受贈儀式，七月還要辦一場慶祝龍舟增添生力軍活動。

               波士頓經文處為了羅德島州龍舟賽暨台灣日的即將慶祝20週年，很早就開始籌備，去年並已組成波士頓台客隊，並已試水的參加了羅德島州龍舟賽和屋斯特龍舟賽。今年將代表台灣參賽。(更新版)

波士頓華埠牌樓公園將改名 向陳毓禮夫婦致敬

麻州眾議員麥家威(Aaron Michlewitz，右)專程請陳毓禮和他
一起在華埠公園前留影。(周菊子攝)

        (Boston Orange周菊子波士頓報導)麻州眾議員麥家威(Aaron Michlewitz)1月6日預告，波士頓華埠公園將改名為"毓禮叔、麗蓉姨公園"。
       麥家威在1月6日早上，出席紐英崙至孝篤親公所新屆職員就職典禮之前，就先約了陳毓禮到華埠牌樓前留影。
        在多名州市議員出席的就職儀式中宣佈喜訊後，麥家威立即於7日把合影傳到臉書(facebook)上，廣告週知。
        麥家威表示，波士頓華埠牌樓旁的華埠公園將改名為"毓禮叔，麗蓉姨公園(Auntie Kay and Uncle Frank Chin Park)。他表示改名案由他提出，轄區包括華埠的麻州參議員賓加利(Joe Boncore)協助，麻州議會上星期在今年會期最後一天通過改名法案，州長也簽署定案了，現在只等春暖花開，天氣好些時，再舉行掛牌儀式。
       麥家威早從 17、18歲時就已認識陳毓禮，之後進入州議會服務，歷任麻州眾議會議長助理等職務，10年前的2009年出馬參選，當上轄區包括華埠的麻州眾議員，連任並服務迄今。他表示，改名後的公園將永久紀念陳毓禮，黃麗蓉兩夫婦對華埠，以及其居民的貢獻，也將成為人們從華埠牌樓那兒踏進波士頓華埠時的第一印象。

以下為麥家威在臉書上的貼文:
Proud to announce a bill to change the name of Chinatown Park at the Greenway to the “Auntie Kay and Uncle Frank Chin Park” passed on the final day of session last week with the help of Joe Boncore and was recently signed into law by the Govenor. 
Chin Park will forever recognize the work of two people that have meant so much to Chinatown and to its residents and will be one of the first things you see when entering Chinatown. Look for a ceremony when the weather gets warmer!

MAYOR WALSH TO FILE LEGISLATION ESTABLISHING A CADET PROGRAM AT THE BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT

MAYOR WALSH TO FILE LEGISLATION ESTABLISHING A CADET PROGRAM AT THE BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT

BOSTON - Tuesday, January 8, 2019 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced he will seek to establish a Cadet Program for the Boston Fire Department (BFD) to recruit and train more women to serve as active firefighters with the Department. Mayor Walsh will formally file his proposal with the Massachusetts Legislature in the coming weeks as part of his overall legislative package. The effort underscores the need to curb a national trend of underrepresentation of women in fire suppression services, demonstrated by the fact that only approximately four percent of firefighters nationally are women, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Among the top cities nationally, for fire departments which do not have a dual role of being a fire-based EMS operation, such as Boston, the percent of female firefighters hovers at one percent. The City of Boston currently has 16 female firefighters, of a firefighting force of approximately 1,500. BFD's newest recruit class of 54 individuals were sworn in last week, marking the most diverse class since 2003. Of the class of 54 new firefighters, more than one-third, or 20 new firefighters, are people of color, including seven Asian individuals (more than doubling the number of Asian-American firefighters at BFD), seven Hispanic and six black individuals. At the same time, the class consisted of 53 males and one female (BFD's first Asian American female), reinforcing the need to further recruit women to serve as active firefighters in the Department. Two times over the last five years, the Department has sought state approval for a "selective certification list" to include a targeted number of female firefighters in new recruit classes; both of these requests were denied.   Following allegations of discrimination, Mayor Walsh commissioned the law firm Stoneman, Chandler, and Miller to conduct an external review examining the culture and environment for female firefighters at BFD. The newly-released 147 page report indicates the need for the Department to hire more women, addresses the significant changes that have been made to address a longstanding male-dominated culture of the Department, noting "considerable progress has been made in how women are treated currently in the Department," while offering recommendations for how to further address issues of diversity and inclusion for women in the Department. Mayor Walsh has committed to adopting all recommendations of the report to bolster female recruitment efforts and improve workplace conditions for women. "It's incredibly important that our workplaces in the City of Boston are inclusive and diverse, and are safe and welcoming to all," said Mayor Walsh. "I thank Attorney Kay Hodge and her team for their diligence in conducting this review that will serve as an opportunity for us to double down on our efforts to recruit those who we have not reached before, make changes where they are needed, and provide every opportunity we can to involve women and men in good, lifelong careers with the Boston Fire Department." "There is nothing more important to me than the health, safety and well-being of Boston's firefighters, which is why I'm proud of all the work we've been able to accomplish over the last several years," said Commissioner Joseph Finn. "This report makes clear that we have more work to do, and now more than ever I am committed to driving this needed change of embracing a culture of inclusion that will reach every corner of every firehouse." The report states, "the lack of a critical mass of female firefighters results in a male dominated department," and "several [women] noted that they did not always feel as welcomed when detailed to houses that did not have a woman regularly assigned." The City of Boston's first female firefighter joined the Department in 1984, alongside Commissioner Finn of the Boston Fire Department. While nationwide trends indicate low numbers of women in the fire suppression services, Mayor Walsh and Commissioner Finn have prioritized diversifying the Department, recruiting more women and offering workplaces that are fitted to accommodate both genders. Under Mayor Walsh and Commissioner Finn, many operational changes have been made in the Department's firehouses over the last several years to improve workplace conditions for female firefighters, including strengthening policies around the designation of women-only bathrooms in those firehouses with permanently assigned female firefighters; installing exterior combination locks on the outside door of women's bathrooms; creating permanent seven foot walls between bunks, each with their own sliding door with an internal lock, to afford greater privacy in sleeping quarters, a huge improvement in living/workplace conditions not previously required through the Hansford decree; conducting extensive training for all district, deputy chiefs and captains regarding issues of respectful workplaces; and conducting ongoing meetings with female firefighters to hear concerns and address issues. Additionally, the Boston Fire Department has twice applied to the state for a Selective Certification List to include a targeted number of female firefighters in new recruit classes; both of these requests were denied, most recently as October 2018. According to the report, "most of the women stated that they loved their jobs and none expressed regret about deciding to become a firefighter." Cognizant that civil service rules statutorily dictates the Department's hiring process by law, the Department proactively hired a diversity recruitment officer in an effort to expand recruitment and outreach to female candidates to become firefighters. "As the female liaison for the Boston Fire Department, it is my responsibility to make sure that the voices of our female population are heard and represented, and that they feel supported at work," said Firefighter Margaret Connolly, the Department's female liaison, and a U.S. Coast Guard veteran. "We've already made improvements within the past 6 months to several issues of concern to our female firefighters, such as updating the bathroom policy and addressing uniform issues. We have increased our recruitment and outreach efforts to female candidates, and will continue to do so. I am excited for this intentional focus on bringing more women to the force." Mayor Walsh and Commissioner Finn are committed to improving the workplace to ensure a culture of inclusion for all firefighters. As such, Mayor Walsh is committed to implementing all recommendations of the report to supplement the work underway. Key points include: Develop a strategy for changing the culture and implementing a welcoming and respectful work environment in all firehouses which will gain the trust of women and men in the Department, and developing a reporting and evaluation system to ensure compliance; Seek passage of special legislation for a Fire Department Cadet Program; Formally implement support systems already ongoing on a department-wide basis to provide support and guidance for firefighters interested in becoming officers, with a particular focus on encouraging women and minority firefighters; Review and revise the City and Boston Fire Department policies and procedures are consistent with the commitment of the Mayor and Commissioner to achieve a safe, welcoming, diverse and inclusive workplace; Continue to implement the Department's comprehensive training for officers to include firefighters on all protected categories, discrimination, anti-harassment, respectful workplace, implicit bias, and non-retaliation; Provide additional support, services, mentors and programs to support female firefighters In addition to prioritizing workplace satisfaction, as one of the oldest fire departments in the nation, Boston has become a national leader on issues regarding firefighter safety. Last year, Metro Fire Chiefs Association named Commissioner Finn National Fire Chief of the Year. Commissioner Finn was selected for his leadership in working to improve the health, wellness, safety and protective gear for firefighters. In addition to establishing a Safety, Health & Wellness Division with the Boston Fire Department, Commissioner Finn has also implemented safety measures including new 45 minute air tanks, wearing of hoods at fire scenes, putting bunker gear washing machine extractors in firehouses and monitoring of air quality in fire buildings. Since taking office in 2014, Mayor Walsh has prioritized outfitting the Boston Fire Department for the 21st century and has committed $100 million to the department for infrastructure improvements. The Boston Fire Department will soon rebuild two fire stations, and has received 40 new fire trucks, replacing 50 percent of its entire fleet in the past four years alone. In addition to infrastructure investments, BFD leadership have undergone extensive workplace training every year, including 30,000 hours total in training which includes anti-harassment, discrimination and respectful workplace training in the last year alone, an over 300% increase in training hours compared to four years ago. To view the full report, please click here.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES 2019 ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORTATION LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES 2019 ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORTATION LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

BOSTON - Tuesday, January 8, 2019 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced his environment and transportation legislative package, the second of four legislative packages the City of Boston will be submitting to the Massachusetts Legislature. The six-bill package will strengthen the Commonwealth's commitment to the goals set out in the Paris Agreement and the City's goals to be carbon neutral by 2050. Mayor Walsh's legislative agenda builds upon the work of the Administration to ensure equity, opportunity and resilience for all residents by strengthening current systems and creating new tools to adapt, mitigate and invest in local transportation and the environment. "Addressing the threat of climate change and making sure we keep up with our transportation needs goes beyond city limits. That's why we must work together with the Massachusetts Legislature on issues of climate mitigation and adaptation, and do everything we can to address congestion and increase safety in our streets," said Mayor Walsh. "I'm proud to propose legislation that will explore incentives to reduce pollution and create a statewide vehicle to work on resiliency projects, as well as proposals that would provide investment in transportation infrastructure." Environment Mayor Walsh's second legislative package of the year focuses on Boston's shared commitment and leadership with the Commonwealth to be robust environmental stewards, strengthening our ability to address climate change and its impacts. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions to be in line with the Paris Agreement while preparing for rising sea levels and extreme weather events is a shared responsibility that requires immediate legislative action. To that end, the environmental bills proposed seek to create a statewide vehicle to work on resiliency projects and explore market incentives to reduce pollution. This work builds on Mayor Walsh's recent vision plan for a Resilient Boston Harbor. This comprehensive and transformative vision calls for investing in Boston's waterfront to protect against the impacts of rising sea level and climate change. The Mayor's plan lays out strategies along Boston's 47-mile shoreline that will increase access and open space along the waterfront while better protecting the city during a major flooding event.   The City has already completed segments of the Resilient Boston Harbor plan through district-level projects in East Boston, Charlestown, and South Boston. These projects led to immediate action along the East Boston Greenway where a deployable flood wall was installed last year, an elevated section of Main St. in Charlestown was added to the design of the City's Rutherford Ave. and Sullivan Square project, the ongoing planning for Moakley Park in South Boston to prepare it for coastal and stormwater flooding, and the construction of Martin's Park in the Seaport, which is expected to be completed this year. Most recently the City, in partnership with the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA), submitted its proposal for a $10 million FEMA pre-mitigation grant to begin resilience work along the Fort Point Channel. As the City continues to make strides towards building a more climate-ready Boston, it will begin its next district-level planning project for the Downtown and North End neighborhoods early this year and begin the same work in Dorchester later this year.   Furthering strengthening Mayor Walsh's commitment to protecting Boston against rising sea levels and climate change, the City is accelerating its progress toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The City of Boston is committed to being carbon neutral by 2050. Early this year the City will begin the process to update its Climate Action Plan. The update will provide an implementation roadmap to achieve carbon neutrality in Boston, identifying the immediate next steps Boston must take to reach its goals. Most recently the City rolled out its regulation of single-use plastic bags, encouraging all customers to switch to reusable bags when shopping in Boston and help move the City toward zero waste. The City also took a big step forward inimplementation of Community Choice Energy by seeking proposals from qualified consultants to develop a municipal energy aggregation program and by convening a community-led working group to inform the program design.   As a leading city on climate action, the City was named a winner of the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge as Boston works to strengthen and accelerate its progress toward reducing carbon emissions. The City will receive a support package, valued at up to $2.5 million, to increase low-carbon mobility choices and improve energy performance of Boston's building sector. "Massachusetts residents are already feeling the impacts of climate change, from hotter summers to increased coastal flooding and heavier rainfall. Our research has shown that to address these challenges and protect vulnerable communities, we need partnership among local, regional and state government," said Rebecca Herst, Executive Director of the Sustainable Solutions Lab at UMass Boston. "We applaud Mayor Walsh for proposing a comprehensive approach to protect communities throughout the Commonwealth and encourage better governance for all." The environmental bills in the Mayor's legislative package include: An Act to Establish a Commission for a Climate Ready Commonwealth: would create a regional commission to determine which entity should lead major coastal and inland resiliency projects, how such projects might be funded and how those projects should be prioritized. Boston is not alone in facing the threat of climate change, and all communities are experiencing the reality of extreme heat, snow, rain, and flooding. As the impacts increase and intensify, it's more important now than ever before to coordinate investments to adapt infrastructure and our natural and built environment to future climate conditions. An Act to Modernize our Natural Gas Infrastructure: would impose a fine on natural gas providers for the total volume of all gas leaks, incentivizing the utility companies to update their infrastructure and providing revenue for climate-ready municipal projects. Natural gas is a powerful greenhouse gas and significant contributor to climate change. The City of Boston and all other cities and towns throughout the Commonwealth have outdated and aging natural gas infrastructure. Gas leaks not only harm the environment but are a public safety issue, public health concern, and financial burden to ratepayers. For more information on the City's environmental work, please visit  boston.gov/environment. Transportation As Boston's population continues to grow, with projected growth to reach almost 760,000 people by the year 2030, Mayor Walsh is proposing four transportation bills aimed at efficiently supporting residents by providing investment in transportation infrastructure, reducing carbon emissions from motor vehicles, and providing for safer streets. The bills further goals established in Go Boston 2030, the City of Boston's comprehensive transportation plan. Execution of the plan is well underway with action being taken on more than half of the 58 projects and policies identified. These initiatives work to reduce traffic, encourage travel by transit, bike and on foot, and ensure safety and access equitably for all users of Boston's streets. Examples include partnering with the MBTA to promote the use of public transit by establishing a dedicated bus lane on a section of Washington Street in Roslindale that serves eight different bus lines carrying thousands of passengers daily; incorporating new techniques and upgraded equipment into roadway projects to advance our Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries in Boston by 2030; and working to build a network of low stress, strategically placed, separated or buffered bike lanes to allow for safe travel by bike throughout Downtown and Boston's neighborhoods. "Mayor Walsh's legislative agenda is comprehensive and future-oriented," said Marc Draisen, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. "It includes incentives to address climate and transportation issues, as well as penalties for behavior that stands in the way of progress. We are particularly pleased that the City of Boston will support Regional Ballot Initiatives to generate revenue for critical improvements in our transportation infrastructure. This is a major source of revenue for roads and transit around the country, and we need this tool in Massachusetts too." The transportation bills in the Mayor's legislative package include: An Act to Allow Regional Ballot Initiatives: would allow cities and towns in Massachusetts to work together to pass taxes that would be used to fund specific transportation projects. An Act to Promote Safe Streets and Reduce Congestion: would allow photo enforcement for school buses with cameras to capture violations when the STOP arm is deployed and for addressing Blocking the Box traffic violations. This bill is part of a broader road safety legislative agenda, which includes support of previously-filed bills related to sideguards on trucks and cell phone use while driving. An Act to Allow Parking Assessments for Infrastructure Investment: would allow cities and towns to add an assessment to spaces in private parking garages, to be used to build and maintain roads and bridges, as well as bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. An Act to Update Transportation Network Company Assessments: would update the existing TNC legislation to better align it with the State's and City's climate and mobility goals.  In particular, it would create a lower assessment for shared trips, a higher assessment for solo trips, and encourage walking, biking and transit as primary modes of travel. For more information on the City's transportation work, please visit boston.gov/transportation.

柯乃南點頭 波士頓僑胞卡特約店新增兩車行

【柯乃南回饋僑胞鄉親 波士頓僑胞卡特約商店新增兩家】

駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處處長徐佑典及夫人杜麗雲(左二、一)，

僑教中心主任歐宏偉(右一)由柯乃南總裁(右二)陪同，參觀

麻州衞斯里豐田汽車（Wellesley Toyota）公司。

麻州衞斯里豐田汽車（Wellesley Toyota）和弗雷明罕起亞汽車（Lev Kia of Framingham）等2家經銷商負責人柯乃南總裁，為響應中華民國僑務委員會發行的「僑胞卡」，特別宣布從今年1月起，這兩家公司正式加入僑胞卡特約商店的行列，並自即日起提供持卡人汽車維修、保養和更換零件10% off 的消費優惠，希望藉此回饋僑社，也讓更多僑胞鄉親感受到政府的用心與美意。

駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處處長徐佑典偕夫人杜麗雲女士，以及僑教中心主任歐宏偉一行於4日在柯總裁的接待陪同下，參觀兩家公司的汽車銷售管理部門與維修服務中心，他們對於公司的各項產品、服務和品牌的經營發展，均予高度讚揚；徐處長夫婦對於柯總裁移居海外的故事與奮鬥歷程，以及堅持承擔企業社會責任，相當敬佩，也感謝他長期對中華民國政府及駐處的支持與協助。

駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處處長徐佑典及夫人杜麗雲(左二、一)，

僑教中心主任歐宏偉(右一)由柯乃南總裁(右二)陪同，參觀

傅萊明罕奇亞汽車（Lev Kia of Framingham）公司。

柯乃南總裁表示，因為汽車銷售的商品及售價必須配合總公司的規定，無法自行決定消費折扣，所以在維修、保養和零件更換等3項服務提供優惠；他也強調，只要是僑胞鄉親前來購車，該2家公司一定會給予最好的服務和最漂亮的價格！

歐宏偉主任很高興這兩家汽車經銷商能加入波士頓地區僑胞卡特約商店的行列，也感謝柯總裁的認同與支持，希望未來有更多僑臺商業者共襄盛舉，並歡迎波士頓地區僑胞鄉親前來僑教中心申辦僑胞卡。(圖與文:波士頓僑教中心提供)

波市府提14項家規法 要增加可負擔住宅改善經濟

(Boston Orange 周菊子整理報導) 波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin J. Walsh )今(7)日宣佈一系列14項住宅安全及經濟流動法案議程，將遞交州議會，陳請立法。

關於住宅安全部分，重點之一是可負擔住宅。馬丁華殊計畫提出六項法案，包括進一步借用商業發展來做槓桿，以建造住宅，創造就業機會，保留包容性發展，可持續的社區保存法財政收入，在驅逐過程中確保被驅逐者得到律師協助，保護耆英租客，保證租客的購買權利等。

馬丁華殊公佈的文件指出，波士頓市內每五個住宅單位就有一個是限制提供給零至中等收入人群。2018年時，馬丁華殊為因應人口成長需求，把2030年時，全市要增建53,000個住宅單位的目標，提高到69,000，其中有15,820個單位將為有收入限制住宅單位。

為獲得更多建造可負擔住宅經費，波市府提議加高2013年訂定的建住宅每平方呎9.03元，辦就業訓練1.78元的收費。在2014到2018年間，這收費辦法共創造3100萬元收入。

根據現行州法，波士頓市每三年可根據消費指數(CPA)的通貨膨脹調整一次費用。波市府經濟發展長巴洛斯(John Barros)表示，波市府提議廢除費率和通貨膨脹掛鉤的做法。波市府已於今日為此提出家規法請願(Home rule petition)。

波市府提出的另一項家規法是以後任何一項發展計畫要蓋10戶以上住宅單位，都必須依照包容性發展項目(IDP)規定辦理，在發展計畫地建造相應數目的可負擔住宅，或提出相應的現金撥款。

保護耆英租客法將禁止擁有六戶以上單位房東，只為調漲房租，無故驅逐75歲以上租客。

其他的法案提議包括在全市各地增加150張酒牌的辦法，要求州政府撥給的社區保存法經費從19%增至50%，把波士頓市社區學院的免學費項目開放給全州居民等等。

波士頓市還提議州政府設立旅遊、藝術及文化投資委員會，以探討各種方法籌措款項來持續投資於這一領域的建設。

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES 2019 HOUSING SECURITY AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES 2019 HOUSING SECURITY AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

BOSTON - Monday, January 7, 2019 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced his comprehensive housing security and economic mobility legislative package, the first of four legislative packages the City of Boston will be submitting to the Massachusetts Legislature. Mayor Walsh's legislative agenda continues his administration's work to create greater opportunity for all residents, and serves all people of Massachusetts through its focus on equity and opportunity, ensuring Boston and Massachusetts' growth benefits all communities in the Commonwealth. The 14-bill housing security and economic mobility package promotes equity, opportunity, and resilience through preserving neighborhoods, stabilizing vulnerable households, supporting small businesses, removing barriers that keep people in poverty, providing new pathways to good jobs, and continuing to leverage Boston's prosperity to build a more inclusive and equitable city. "Boston and the Commonwealth succeed when everyone has a chance to move forward," said Mayor Walsh. "Housing and economic mobility are linked: a stable home allows residents to pursue opportunities. In Boston, we've increased our affordable housing goals and worked to ensure everyone has a home in our city. We are doubling down on economic mobility by supporting small businesses, many of them owned by women, immigrants and people of color, reforming parts of the system that create barriers that keep people in poverty, and providing new pathways to good jobs. I look forward to advancing these bills in the Legislature, and creating more opportunity for all." Housing Security Mayor Walsh's first legislative package of the year focuses on housing security and economic mobility, expanding the work that Boston has done to address the region's affordable housing crisis and proposing new and existing tools to leverage Boston's prosperity and create sustainable wealth opportunities for a more inclusive and equitable city. The housing security bills proposed seek to help existing tenants, particularly older adults, remain in their homes, and create additional funding for affordable housing. This work builds off Boston's commitment to ensuring all communities have affordable and equitable housing options. Currently, one in five housing units in Boston is income restricted to people with none to moderate incomes. Boston has secured funding to build affordable housing by utilizing a range of tools, including leveraging market-rate development, collecting linkage and Inclusionary Development Policy (IDP) payments from real estate developers, and by supporting passage of the Community Preservation Act (CPA). In 2018, Mayor Walsh increased the City's overall housing targets from 53,000 to 69,000 new units by 2030, including 15,820 income-restricted units, to meet Boston's population growth. These income-restricted units will include purchasing 1,000 rental housing units from the speculative market and income-restricting them through an expanded Acquisition Opportunity Program. In addition, the City announced awardees of an affordable housing funding round that included more than $16 million in city affordable housing funds, and the first awards of Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding for affordable housing development projects. As the City continues to make strides towards creating more affordable housing, it is also working with regional partners to ensure affordable housing is a reality throughout the region through the Metro Mayor's Regional Housing Task Force. Mayor Walsh helped spearhead the execution of a recently-released regional housing production goal, which aims to create 185,000 new units of housing across the region by the year 2030. The proposed bills will enhance the work of the Metro Mayors Coalition.  "We're very pleased with the interlocking package of Housing Security bills that Mayor Walsh is submitting to the legislature," said Joe Kreisberg, President and CEO of the MA Association of Community Development Corporations. "Strengthening tools like the Inclusionary Development Program and Linkage to ensure that Boston will be able to build income-restricted housing in the future represents great forward-thinking. We'd like to see more cities and towns utilize these tools to build more affordable housing in their communities, and to adopt the needed tenant protections the package offers to the Commonwealth's most vulnerable households." The housing security bills in the Mayor's legislative package include: An Act to Further Leverage Commercial Development to Build Housing and Create Jobs: would allow the City of Boston to adjust the Linkage Program, which was created as a way for commercial development to contribute to Boston's needs for affordable housing and workforce development. Current legislation mandates that a fee per square foot would be directed to the Neighborhood Housing Trust Fund and The Neighborhood Jobs Trust, with the City being allowed to take a Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustment every three years. However, given the cyclical nature of building booms, greater flexibility has proven necessary to share the benefits of current economic growth with more residents. In order to provide Boston with the ability to make responsible adjustments to the Linkage formula as needed, the bill would eliminate the restriction on making adjustments only once every three years. The home rule petition will be filed today. An Act to Preserve Inclusionary Development: would memorialize Boston's Inclusionary Development Program (IDP) into the Zoning Code. Currently, IDP applies to any proposed residential project of 10 or more units that is either financed by or built on property owned by the City of Boston or the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA), or that requires zoning relief. To fulfill IDP requirements, developers may create income-restricted affordable units within their developments on-site, create income-restricted affordable housing in an off-site location, make a cash contribution towards the creation or preservation of income-restricted affordable housing, or a combination of these options. This Act would require IDP obligations from all projects of 10 or more units, regardless of the need for zoning relief, supporting Boston's present and future needs for income-restricted housing. The home rule petition will be filed today. To be filed by the Community Preservation Coalition, an Act to Sustain Community Preservation Act Revenue would protect the Community Preservation Act (CPA) revenue that more than 170 cities and towns depend on for the creation of affordable housing, open space, and historic preservation. It would increase the fees for recording deeds to return the state match to closer to 50 percent. In 2018, after Boston joined the coalition of cities and towns that receive CPA funds, the match was just 19 percent. An Act to Ensure Right to Counsel in Eviction Proceedings: would provide certain low-income tenants facing eviction with a court-appointed attorney for representation, increasing  housing and economic stability for vulnerable households. The bill also creates a public task force to create an implementation plan. An Act to Protect Elderly Tenants: would prohibit no-fault eviction of persons over 75 years of age. Landlords would be required to provide notice to the local community at the same time the eviction notice is served to the elderly tenant. Eviction would only be permitted for good cause such as failure to pay rent, damage to the property, or use of the premises for illegal activities. Rent increases would be limited to five percent per year for tenants aged 75 or older to prevent landlords from using large rent increases to get around just cause protections. This would apply to all properties with six or more rental units. An Act to Guarantee a Tenant's Right to Purchase: this local option bill would provide tenant associations of residential rental properties with more than five rental units with the right of first refusal to collectively purchase the properties at fair market value. The Act would allow the tenants match any bona fide offer to sell the property or to assign their right to purchase to a non-profit acting on their behalf. For more information on the City's work to create more affordable housing, please visit: Housing A Changing City: Boston 2030. Economic Mobility As Boston continues to grow at an incredible rate, Mayor Walsh has prioritized economic equity to ensure all Bostonians benefit from Boston's booming economy. In 2014, Mayor Walsh created the Economic Development Cabinet to make Boston an appealing and accessible place for families and businesses to grow and thrive in a way that fosters inclusion, broadens opportunity, and shares prosperity, thereby enhancing the quality of life for all Bostonians. Milestones include the development of the city's first ever Economic Inclusion and Equity Agenda, publication of the city's first Small Business Report, launch of the Small Business Resource Center, and passage of an updated Boston Residents Job Policy with elevated develop standard for hiring and building in Boston. The economic mobility bills in the Mayor's legislative package include: An Act to Increase Access to Affordable Community College: would replicate Boston's Tuition-Free Community College (TFCC) Initiative launched in June 2016, making it available statewide. TFCC was launched by Mayor Walsh and currently serves 295 students attending Bunker Hill Community College, Roxbury Community College and MassBay Community College. Students enrolled through the program have an average graduation rate of 70 percent over three years, significantly higher than national averages.   Katherine Hernandez, Dorchester resident and a sociology major at Bunker Hill Community College, credits the city's Tuition-Free Community College program with helping her succeed in getting her degree. "I wouldn't be able to go to college if it wasn't for this program," said Hernandez. An Act to Create Economic Vitality in Boston Neighborhoods: would expand the number of liquor licenses in Boston and target them to neighborhoods that would greatly benefit with an influx of restaurants to drive economic activity. Restaurants are the lifeblood of neighborhood business districts, providing jobs and gathering spaces, and spurring other businesses to locate nearby, and this balanced approach to licensing ensures neighborhoods historically disadvantaged by the liquor license process will receive their fair share. An Act to Ensure Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces: would require state contracting officers to consider an employer's record of workplace law compliance, including health and safety standards, wage laws and civil rights laws, before awarding a contract. The goal is to protect workers from wage abuse, workplace discrimination, and unsafe working conditions while ensuring a fair public contracting system that makes sure companies are following the law. An Opportunity to Achieve Equal Pay: Massachusetts Pay Transparency and Pipeline Advancement Act: would require all companies with more than 100 employees to report the gender and race of employees holding specific management titles, and require the Office of Labor and Workforce Development to post data. This legislation would also establish a fund to provide professional development services to employees who observe a disparity between the overall and their employer's ratio, in order to help improve their employer's rating. An Act to Promote Asset Building for Low-Income Residents: would remove the cap on assets for families receiving temporary cash assistance. The current policy disincentivizes families to accumulate even moderate savings and makes it more difficult for them to access resources. Eight other states have enacted similar changes with positive results. An Act to Lift the Cap on Kids: would repeal a policy that denies critical resources to children conceived while, or soon after, a family is receiving benefits. Massachusetts is one of only 17 states that have a Cap on Kids or similar policy. An Act to Help Working Families: which seeks to raise the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to 50 percent, would return money directly to more than 400,000 eligible low- and moderate-income individuals and families. The EITC is almost universally seen as one of the most effective anti-poverty programs, and an increase of the state EITC would offer a significant economic boost for low-income workers. Finally, Boston understands the importance of supporting industries that drive growth, create jobs and generate tax revenue for the Commonwealth. Tourism, bolstered by arts and culture, is one of the state's largest industries. Investment in Tourism, Arts and Culture, used to promote the state, support institutions and build a more resilient workforce in the hospitality and creative industries would yield impressive dividends. To that end An Act to Create a Statewide Commission on Tourism and Arts and Culture Investment would explore ways to raise money for sustained investment in this sector.

波克萊台商年會 捐資購龍舟 贈書僑教中心

波克萊台灣商會代表世界台商聯合總會贈送海外台商企業家專輯。38位企業家獲選列入專輯，其中的"從貧寒到富貴的傳奇一生"，描述的就是波克萊台商會顧問游勝雄(左一)。右起，波克萊台商財政郭競儒，台商副會長徐小玲，鄭建盛，蘇鴻昌，經文處處長徐佑典，波克萊台商會長楊羅東。(主辦單位提供)

            (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 麻州波克萊台灣商會1月5日晚在聚福軒舉行年會，歡喜匯報過去一年成果豐碩，顧問游勝雄訪談獲選入海外台商專輯，前副會長蘇鴻昌獲選為世界台商會理事，捐款5000元贊助買龍舟，3月將赴南非參加世台商理監事聯席會。

波克萊台灣商會顧問游勝雄(左起)，會長楊羅東代表世台商
贈送海外台商企業家專輯給波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉。
(主辦單位提供)

             在年會上，會長楊羅東，財務長郭競儒，顧問游勝雄等一一報告，駐波士頓經濟文化辦事處處長徐佑典，組長洪麗玲，波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉，紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊等嘉賓一一致詞。

波克萊台商會和紐約台商會捐款助購龍舟。

             楊羅東總結報告，波克萊台商會現有180個商家會員，19名理事，定期開會外，例行活動包括參加元旦升旗，新春揮毫，接待波士頓馬拉松賽來自台灣跑者團，牛頓台灣日，支持台商海產展，夏日海釣，雙十遊行，舉行年會等，去年還有顧問郭競儒接待”台灣青年搭橋計畫”成員，理事們赴舊金山，鳳凰城。台北等地參加北美及世界台商理監事會議。

波士頓經文處處長徐佑典(右)透露他在台灣時就經辦
買龍舟這案子。左為司儀陳玉瑛。(周菊子攝)

             楊羅東特地指出，該會個別會員積極和主流正要交流，包括支持台灣人後裔劉醇逸當選為紐約州第11選區州參議員，成為紐約州參議會第一位亞裔議員，支持麻州的黃子安，陳德基兩名眾議員，越南裔的阮嬋(Tram Nguyen)新當選為代表安多福鎮的第18區眾議員等。

             游勝雄在會上闡述台商會的組織架構，指出波克萊台商會是北美洲台商會中諮詢委員最多的一個協會。而共有39個商會會員的北美洲台商會，但只有26個世界台灣商會的理事名額，扣除連任者，只有6個名額，競爭頗為激烈，該會前會長蘇鴻昌今年榮幸當選為是台商理事。

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉(右)再報告僑胞卡。(周菊子攝)

            游勝雄表示，他還具有世界及北美洲台商會選務委員身分。由於有北美洲，世界，青年等台商會多項選舉待辦，波克萊台商會會長楊羅東也被邀入選務委員會。

游勝雄說明台商會組織架構。(主辦單位提供)

             波克萊台商會顧問兼財政郭競儒在會上報告了該會年度募款概況，並說明世界台灣商會聯合總會第24屆總會長林貴香送給該會五冊海外台商企業家專輯，其中兩冊交給波士頓華僑文教中心圖書館，另外三冊分別送給該會會長楊羅東，副會長徐小玲及鄭建盛。該專輯甄選了包括該會顧問游勝雄的38名海外台商做報導，描述游勝雄的這篇，名為”從貧寒到富貴的傳奇一生”。

游勝雄舉起"海外台商企業家專輯"，供出席者參考。
(周菊子攝)

             在嘉賓致詞時，經文處處長徐佑典指出，他到任沒多久，就遇上波士頓馬拉松賽這大活動，親身體會到波克萊台商會對台灣，對經文處的大力支持，現在又和紐約台商會分別捐款，一起買龍舟，大力支持將慶祝20週年的羅德島龍舟賽台灣日，他十分感恩。

             經文處組長洪麗玲稍後進一步說明，購買龍舟是為羅德島州龍舟賽台灣日將慶祝20週年，由不同機構及組織贊助，總共要買六艘龍舟。

            波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉在會上再次宣傳僑胞卡，呼籲年滿20歲的台灣僑民，都可帶美國護照正本或中華民國護照加綠卡，到僑教中心申辦僑胞卡，5分鐘就可辦妥。特約商已超過2500家。

波士頓地區僑胞卡特約商，在新增豐田汽車和奇亞(Kia)汽車後，原本已增至15家，經歐宏偉當場邀約，在鱈魚角開餐廳的波克萊台商會副會長徐小玲含笑點頭，立刻增至16家。

麻州波克萊台灣商會今年的年會有近百人參加，餘興節目由蘇鴻昌，陳玉瑛主持”愛我故鄉叫台灣”的故鄉城市有獎徵答，後續活動預定為1月30日的歲末感恩，將組團拜訪波克萊安養院。(僑教中心提供)

2019羅德島華協獎學金2/15前接受申請